Selective pneumatic-tube carrier



Sept 15,193@ w. H. FRANCIS 1.775.068

sELEcTIVE PNEUMATIC TUBE cmun 'Filed Nov. 18, 1929 lll/A.

nventor Gttomeg Patented Sept. 16, 1,930

UNITED STATES PIQENT OFFICE f WILLIAM H. FRANCIS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY,V ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW "YORK SELECTIVE PNEUMATIC-TUBE CARRIER Application led November 18, 1929.

This invention relates to c-arriers for pneumatic dispatch tubes and has special reference to a carrier for use in connection with such pneumatic tube systems as that disclosed in the patent to W'. V. McGuinness et al, No.

Systems of this character distribute the carriers used selectively to different stations or offices and the selector devices require for their operation that the lower edge of the reinforcing collar, commonly employed at the open end of the carrier, have its location on the carrier definitely established with great regard to accuracy and that such lower edge have great wear resisting properties so as .to prevent the lower edge from wearing away in use to an extent suiiicient to vitiate the care used in constructing the carrier with the edge definitely established.

Commonly, carriers for pneumatic tubes have their open ends reinforced by a fibre collar, fibre being used because a metallic collar of the same dimension is too heavy and further because a metallic collar constructed like the fibre collars used, is very noisy when the carrier moves through the tubes. Fibre, however, is not readily positioned with eX- actness under the usual conditions of manufacture of these carriers and is, moreover, subiect to very rapid wear and bruising of the lower edge when used in connection with selective relays such as shown in the aforesaid patent.

Among the objects, therefore, of the pres- J ent invention is to provide an improved construction of carrier having a novel arrangement of collar wherein the lower edge is positioned with the required degree of accuracy; to provide a collar for this purpose having ,a lower edge of great wear resistance; and

to provide an improved collar for this purpose wherein the tendency to wear will be on a metal surface but in whichv the metal used in the collar is so disposed and guarded j; that it does not contact with the tube walls in the passage of carriers so constructed through pneumatic tubes.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention will now be described in detail .f5-i vand then specifically claimed, reference be- Seral No. 408,079.-

ing had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure l is a perspective view of a carrier constructed in accordance with this inven.`

L' tion.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the mouth or open end portion of such a carrier.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification of the construction.

Figure l is a section through a portion of an automatic selector of the kind shown in the patent above referred to and disclosing the manner in which the selector fingers lengage with the collars of carriers cased therein.

In the invention as here illustrated the body l0 of the carrier is of the usual tubular form having one vend open and the remaining end closed and provided witha suitable piston head l1 designed to fit closely in the tubes of the system to receive the'pressure of the air used in transmission. These posts are common inthe art and will not'bey further described.- f l Since the body 10 is, for many reasons, made of light andthin material it is necessary that the open end should be reinforced specific mechanism -forthis beingV set forthy in the aforesaid patent. Ars the :lowerv edge of the carrier collar repeatedly engages the fingers it soon becomes bruised and worn or distorted if provision is not made to prevent this action. present invention, is constructedas follows In the form shown in Figure 2 a metallic sleeve 14 is yslipped over the open end of the body 10. At-its top this sleeve is provided with an inwardly extending flange 15 which covers the top edge ofthe body 10, the inner rllothis end the collar, inr the.

periphery of this ange being flush with the inner surface of the body 10 so that the space within the body is in no way obstruct-ed by the flange. This flange not only protects the body edge against damage but also serves as a stop or gauge in properly positioning the sleeve 14. At the bottom, the sleeve 'la is provided with an outwardly extending flange 16 and on this sleeve is fitted a second sleeve 17 of fibre or like material which extends from the flange 16 to the top of the sleeve and is preferably of such thickness that its outer surface is flush with the periphery of the flange 16. Rivets 21 pass through the body 10 and both sleeves and serve to secure the three parts firmly together. Vith this construction it will be seen that the metal is prevented from Contact with the tube walls since the head 11 is of greater diameter than the sleeve and the upper edge only of the sleeve 17 can enga-ge said wall if the open end of the carrier swings to one side or the other in its passage through a tube. Also this construction provides a sleeve of relatively soft material and awear band beneath and engaging and protecting the lower edge of said sleeve. Y Y

In the form shown in Figure 3 a fibre or other like sleeve 19 is secured on the open end of the body 10 by rivets 21 and the lower edge of this sleeve 19 is protected by a metal ring 2O seated onthe body 10 against said edge and secured by rivets 21. In this form, like that of Figure 2, provision is made of a sleeve of relatively soft material and a wear band engaging and protecting the lower end of said sleeve.

It is obvious that minor changes may .be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing fromv the material spirit thereof.r It is not, therefore, desired'to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properlyV come Within the scope claimed.

1. A carrier for the purpose described having a tubular body, a reinforcing sleeve of 'relatively soft material surrounding one end of the body, and a wear and gauge band carried on the body and resting against the lower end ofsaid sleeve. l I

2. A carrier for the purpose described vhaving a tubular body, a sleeve of relatively hard and wear resisting material iitted on one end of the body and provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending flange, and a sleeve of relatively soft material fitted on the first sleeve with its lower end resting on said flange, said first sleeve having an inwardly l ICO second sleeve of relatively soft material fitted on the rst sleeve with its lower end resting i on said flange. Y

'3. A carrier for the purpose described having a tubular body, a sleeve of relatively hard and wear resisting material tted on one end of the body and provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending flange, a second 

